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[ritualized]

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[hotspurred]

[Henry frowns, perplexed.]

How could it be painful to be near you?

[ritualized]

[She only hesitates for a moment, knowing there are few other explanations that wouldn't require larger amounts of context, more than he would either want or need to know. She's always been proud to serve her function, but as long as she's here...how she longs to keep that information to herself.]

Because I was dying.

I know it had to hurt him very much to watch, and he had to focus...

[hotspurred]

You were—

[Henry's eyes widen. That evidently comes as a surprise.]

And now? Are you...

[Tact isn't his strong point, but even Henry feels awkward asking whether Iri died and was brought back to life here, much like Maketh was, or whether she is still... well, presumably ill, even if she doesn't look it.]

[ritualized]

I'm afraid I can't really explain how I managed to wake up here. [She remembers being greeted by Saber in the coliseum, betrayed and angry. She hadn't even believed it was her then, and Iri still wonders, sometimes, if she really is herself.]

It did happen. [She sighs, then realizes she should reassure him. She is always reassuring people about death, it seems.] But I knew it would happen, so I was prepared.

[hotspurred]

[Henry nods slowly.]

I am sorry, nonetheless. [Few die willingly, he thinks. Even if Irisviel faced it with grace, surely she would have rather lived.] Maketh died before she woke here, as have others. 'Tis not the kindest of second lives, but... it is yet another chance.

[ritualized]

You don't need to apologize. [She sounds surprised that he even would.] ...But, thank you.

[Linking her hands tightly, Irisviel fidgets with her thumbs.] That's what I think. I don't know if Saber feels the same way...But while the pain I've felt since coming here has been almost indescribable, so have the joys. I've never been to a party before! [She chuckles.]

[hotspurred]

[It's sweet, how Irisviel and Saber's thoughts seem to often rest on each other.]

Have you not? [How strange to imagine.] I would have expected one for your marriage, if not at Christmas or on birthdays.